When I was growing up, there were several wrestling promotions that had TV time, throughout the country. Granted, as a child of the 80s, the territories were dying out already, but they still had some impact. WWF was growing larger and larger, but we wrestling fans could still watch the various NWA programs. If you had ESPN, you could also see AWA. Then there was UWF, PNW and even USWA. Generally, the way things worked was that the larger companies would scout talent in the various territories and pick up the top stars to bring in to their organization. So, these wrestlers that they brought in were already somewhat established. Whether they had worked Portland for a couple years or even passed through Stampede, up in Calgary, they had honed their craft and done something that had gotten them noticed. This continued on with ECW, which was really like the last great territory. These days, who does WWE or TNA bring in? Well, for the most part, WWE brings in talentless, cookie-cutter guys that have done nothing. Most of them are in their early 20s, at best, and haven't paid their dues. It's no wonder that they get on TV and bore the hell out of everyone. The thing is, they're unpolished and have no business being in televised matches and having their own gimmicks. If anything, they should be doing jobber matches on TV. I hated the Hardys, but at least they got squashed, week in and week out, for a few years before they were given characters and pushed like hell.
Look at someone like John Cena. People like to compare him to Hogan, in an attempt to justify this lame character. However, Hogan was red hot in AWA before Vince Jr. brought him in and Hulkamania got underway. Hogan had wrestled in various territories, and even in New Japan, and was ready for the spotlight when he was put in the main event. Cena, on the other hand, was brought up through WWF's pathetic developmental system. He was right out of training, practically, when he got called up. He paid no dues. He was still in diapers, more or less. He got a ridiculous gimmick that managed to get over because most of the American population are into the thugged-out Jerry Springer anti-culture that this country is known for. Then, they push this bastard to the moon and force-feed him because, whether the guy is worth a damn or not, they need their next big star. The problem is, guys like Hogan, Hart and Austin, who had all worked their way up the ladder over many years and were ready for that spot... this type was gone. In its place was the manufactured superstar, who was simply forced down the throats of the fans. The got lucky with Rock, though he was a big failure as the Blue Chipper.
At this point, the business is being carried by the few vets left and will soon die once left to the hands of these inexperienced rookies, getting to main event Wrestlemania in their third year as a wrestler. It's pathetic. Another large part of the problem has been the booking since 2002. Around this time, they were losing Rock, Austin and Foley. Instead of truly giving the ball to Jericho, RVD or even Goldberg and Booker T, they buried them to keep pushing HHH during his Reign of Terror. Anyone that doesn't think RVD and Jericho were over enough to carry the company are either clueless or in denial. They were white hot. Then they were fed to HHH. So, once their heat was killed, who was next? Green rookies like Cena, Batista and Orton. This, of course, alienated the remaining fans from the so-called attitude era and ushered in the Green Age; the years of forcing unpolished jobbers down our throats as main eventers.
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